Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:33 a.m.

Facts

Dale Loucks Smith

Born: Aug. 27, 1948.Birthplace: Winter Haven.Occupation: Winter Haven city manager.Salary: $128,607. Education: Bachelor of science and engineering in civil engineering from the University of South Florida, master's of public administration from the University of South Florida.Family: Wife, Marcia, one adult son and one adult daughter.Favorite Food: Tacos.Favorite TV Show: "NCIS."Most Recent Book Read: "Extreme Government Makeover" by Ken Miller.

Smith is so cheap, friends say, that on a fishing trip with friend and Winter Haven Finance Director Cal Bowen, Smith used a twig to roll up old fishing line Bowen was removing from his reel. Bowen had already deemed it ruined but Smith was willing to reuse it.

Even Mayor J.P. Powell gets in a joke when he can about Smith's frugality.

"He learned (his frugality) from his brother Noah, and it was very obvious when he built the ark," Powell said with a chuckle.

But it's a trait that has served Smith well as Winter Haven's city manager, especially as he navigated tough budgets ravaged by deflated home prices in his three years as city manager.

Smith, 64, retires Thursday. When he leaves, colleagues say, he'll take a lot with him.

Smith was born and raised in Winter Haven. He grew up on Lake Howard, within a green Schwinn three-speed bike-ride of a bustling downtown he loved as a kid. It broke his heart when he came back to Winter Haven, degree in hand, to boarded downtown windows. The usually calm, reserved man, perks up now when he talks about the downtown revitalization he played a part in.

As the city's first engineer, Smith designed a large part of the city's infrastructure. Want to know what's in the ground and where? Smith is a more reliable source than city records.

Luckily for city staff, he isn't going far — he's going to find a garage in Winter Haven to work on his classic cars.

WINTER HAVEN NATIVE

Dale Loucks Smith was born to Merle and Winifred Smith in Winter Haven Hospital on Aug. 27, 1948. Merle Smith was a mechanic who died when Dale was 6 years old. His mother has since remarried and is now Winifred Beatrice.

Smith first grew up on 14th Street and Lake Elbert in a tiny house. When he was 6, he moved to a red brick house at the corner of Avenue C Southwest and 21st Street. He'd live there even after marrying.

Smith graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1966 — the best class in Winter Haven history he will have you know.

He worked his way through college, one quarter taking classes at the University of South Florida, another working at Food Machinery Corp. in Lakeland to pay for it.

Smith married his wife, Marcia, on March 17, 1978.She first took notice of young Dale Smith when they were in high school. She lived on the same street as other girls the high school boys hoped to court.

"The guys would always drive their cars back and forth on our street and he was one of them," Marcia Smith said.

Both were living in the Lake Apartments — now the Sailwind Apartments — when each walked out on nearby balconies in the middle of the night to catch a rare snowfall.

"I knew that they were expecting snow that night and I just went out in the middle of the night," Marcia Smith said.

They struck up a conversation that turned into friendship, a friendship that turned into a marriage.

They have two children and will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in March.

FIRST DESIGNER

Smith was hired by Winter Haven City Manager Jim Easton in 1978. Smith had been working for the Florida Department of Transportation for five years but still hadn't seen anything he'd designed be built.

Working for Winter Haven gave him the chance to design today and build tomorrow.

The hire was important for Winter Haven, said Bowen, one of the few city employees with a tenure longer than Smith's. Smith was one of the first engineers on staff and Bowen said Smith brought a new level of professionalism to the department.

Smith was promoted to Public Works director about 18 months later, a job he would hold until 2001, when he was first offered the job of city manager. He initially opted to hold the position on an interim basis while city commissioners searched for a replacement.

They would eventually hire David Greene, who held the job until Smith was appointed to the position in the same City Commission motion that accepted Greene's resignation.

But in those nine years, Smith was promoted to assistant city manager, his favorite job with the city.

"That was probably the peak of my career, being assistant city manager, because the city manager took the heat," Smith said with a laugh.

LIFE-CHANGING EVENT

In all the years of night meetings and long days, Smith's commitment to the city sometimes took a toll on his family.

"I have to admit, it was rough on my family. My kids took a beating from it because of my nights, my meetings," Smith said. "But I learned in life that you try to balance it. You really try your hardest to balance it to be there for the major things."

A life-changing event would turn the tide for Smith. He was diagnosed with stage three melanoma skin cancer in 1988.

"At the beginning, they were kind of rough on you ... at that time, melanoma, it didn't have a treatment," Smith said.

"It made me change my entire life.

"My son was born and here he was, only 7 months old, and (I'm) diagnosed with cancer.

"I changed my whole outlook on life, to smell the roses, to slow up ... from that time on, I started spending more time with the family because you just never know when that is going to happen."

The change in Smith helped at home. He sometimes missed events for his children. One year, when son Adam was in a play at Brigham Academy and Smith was running late, Adam looked out to see if his dad was there and all he saw was his mom, sister and an empty seat. But when he got on stage to sing, he saw his dad in his seat, and he stopped in the middle of the performance and gave his dad a big thumbs up.

"That just meant so much," Smith said. "I said I'm not going to miss any more because it meant something to him."

CITY HALL CONTENTION

Smith is retiring at a time when the city faces a lot of question marks. City officials say plans are proceeding on the sale of the Chain of Lakes Complex to become The Landings, but problems have persisted.

The city also is considering a number of privatization efforts, including the city's residential garbage pickup.

In City Hall and at commission meetings, the city is often questioned about its actions and decisions.

There's always been a group of residents who would have complaints about the city, Smith said. They'd come to City Hall all the time.

"But I'm seeing more right now than I've ever seen before, a larger crowd of them," Smith said. "And it's a movement, and it's an antigovernment movement ... I understand people are frustrated, I'm frustrated, too, with some of the stuff that's going on, but don't take it out on your local government."

When asked if that movement, and much of the questioning of city government is contributing to his retirement, Smith just said "It's time."

He said he's ready to work on his collection of 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II /Novas. He's got two now, both like the one he used to cruise the road where Marcia Smith lived when they were in high school.

LEGACY

Smith doesn't like to talk about his legacy and he's quick to push credit to others. But he is most proud of the revitalization of downtown.

Smith said the part he played in revitalizing downtown is his greatest achievement.

"If you were ever to bump into me downtown on a Saturday night at a car show ... you'll see the biggest smile on my face because I am delighted to see what's going on downtown. I can't say it's because of me. I am part of it."

Mayor Powell said Smith's legacy would be his love for the city and its residents.

"He's always put the city first," Powell said.

"He's always concerned about the well-being of the citizens and he has always thought about the employees as well."

Police Chief Gary Hester, the only department director Smith hired as city manager, said it's hard to pick just one accomplishment.

"I think there isn't much that Dale's fingerprints aren't on throughout this city," Hester said.

He may be joining a large group of retirees living in Winter Haven, but he'll be one of the few who can say they're a homeboy.

[ Ryan Little can be reached at ryan.little@theledger.com or 863-401-6962. Follow him on Twitter @LedgerRyan ]

<p>WINTER HAVEN | Dale Smith is a Winter Haven homeboy with a well-known frugality.</p><p>Smith is so cheap, friends say, that on a fishing trip with friend and Winter Haven Finance Director Cal Bowen, Smith used a twig to roll up old fishing line Bowen was removing from his reel. Bowen had already deemed it ruined but Smith was willing to reuse it.</p><p>Even Mayor J.P. Powell gets in a joke when he can about Smith's frugality.</p><p>"He learned (his frugality) from his brother Noah, and it was very obvious when he built the ark," Powell said with a chuckle.</p><p>But it's a trait that has served Smith well as Winter Haven's city manager, especially as he navigated tough budgets ravaged by deflated home prices in his three years as city manager.</p><p>Smith, 64, retires Thursday. When he leaves, colleagues say, he'll take a lot with him.</p><p>Smith was born and raised in Winter Haven. He grew up on Lake Howard, within a green Schwinn three-speed bike-ride of a bustling downtown he loved as a kid. It broke his heart when he came back to Winter Haven, degree in hand, to boarded downtown windows. The usually calm, reserved man, perks up now when he talks about the downtown revitalization he played a part in.</p><p>As the city's first engineer, Smith designed a large part of the city's infrastructure. Want to know what's in the ground and where? Smith is a more reliable source than city records.</p><p>Luckily for city staff, he isn't going far — he's going to find a garage in Winter Haven to work on his classic cars.</p><p>WINTER HAVEN NATIVE</p><p>Dale Loucks Smith was born to Merle and Winifred Smith in Winter Haven Hospital on Aug. 27, 1948. Merle Smith was a mechanic who died when Dale was 6 years old. His mother has since remarried and is now Winifred Beatrice.</p><p>Smith first grew up on 14th Street and Lake Elbert in a tiny house. When he was 6, he moved to a red brick house at the corner of Avenue C Southwest and 21st Street. He'd live there even after marrying.</p><p>Smith graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1966 — the best class in Winter Haven history he will have you know.</p><p>He worked his way through college, one quarter taking classes at the University of South Florida, another working at Food Machinery Corp. in Lakeland to pay for it.</p><p>Smith married his wife, Marcia, on March 17, 1978.She first took notice of young Dale Smith when they were in high school. She lived on the same street as other girls the high school boys hoped to court.</p><p>"The guys would always drive their cars back and forth on our street and he was one of them," Marcia Smith said.</p><p>Both were living in the Lake Apartments — now the Sailwind Apartments — when each walked out on nearby balconies in the middle of the night to catch a rare snowfall.</p><p>"I knew that they were expecting snow that night and I just went out in the middle of the night," Marcia Smith said.</p><p>They struck up a conversation that turned into friendship, a friendship that turned into a marriage.</p><p>They have two children and will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in March.</p><p>FIRST DESIGNER</p><p>Smith was hired by Winter Haven City Manager Jim Easton in 1978. Smith had been working for the Florida Department of Transportation for five years but still hadn't seen anything he'd designed be built.</p><p>Working for Winter Haven gave him the chance to design today and build tomorrow.</p><p>The hire was important for Winter Haven, said Bowen, one of the few city employees with a tenure longer than Smith's. Smith was one of the first engineers on staff and Bowen said Smith brought a new level of professionalism to the department.</p><p>Smith was promoted to Public Works director about 18 months later, a job he would hold until 2001, when he was first offered the job of city manager. He initially opted to hold the position on an interim basis while city commissioners searched for a replacement.</p><p>They would eventually hire David Greene, who held the job until Smith was appointed to the position in the same City Commission motion that accepted Greene's resignation.</p><p>But in those nine years, Smith was promoted to assistant city manager, his favorite job with the city.</p><p>"That was probably the peak of my career, being assistant city manager, because the city manager took the heat," Smith said with a laugh. </p><p>LIFE-CHANGING EVENT</p><p>In all the years of night meetings and long days, Smith's commitment to the city sometimes took a toll on his family.</p><p>"I have to admit, it was rough on my family. My kids took a beating from it because of my nights, my meetings," Smith said. "But I learned in life that you try to balance it. You really try your hardest to balance it to be there for the major things."</p><p>A life-changing event would turn the tide for Smith. He was diagnosed with stage three melanoma skin cancer in 1988. </p><p>"At the beginning, they were kind of rough on you ... at that time, melanoma, it didn't have a treatment," Smith said. </p><p>"It made me change my entire life.</p><p>"My son was born and here he was, only 7 months old, and (I'm) diagnosed with cancer.</p><p>"I changed my whole outlook on life, to smell the roses, to slow up ... from that time on, I started spending more time with the family because you just never know when that is going to happen."</p><p>The change in Smith helped at home. He sometimes missed events for his children. One year, when son Adam was in a play at Brigham Academy and Smith was running late, Adam looked out to see if his dad was there and all he saw was his mom, sister and an empty seat. But when he got on stage to sing, he saw his dad in his seat, and he stopped in the middle of the performance and gave his dad a big thumbs up.</p><p>"That just meant so much," Smith said. "I said I'm not going to miss any more because it meant something to him."</p><p>CITY HALL CONTENTION</p><p>Smith is retiring at a time when the city faces a lot of question marks. City officials say plans are proceeding on the sale of the Chain of Lakes Complex to become The Landings, but problems have persisted.</p><p>The city also is considering a number of privatization efforts, including the city's residential garbage pickup.</p><p>In City Hall and at commission meetings, the city is often questioned about its actions and decisions. </p><p>There's always been a group of residents who would have complaints about the city, Smith said. They'd come to City Hall all the time.</p><p>"But I'm seeing more right now than I've ever seen before, a larger crowd of them," Smith said. "And it's a movement, and it's an antigovernment movement ... I understand people are frustrated, I'm frustrated, too, with some of the stuff that's going on, but don't take it out on your local government."</p><p>When asked if that movement, and much of the questioning of city government is contributing to his retirement, Smith just said "It's time."</p><p>He said he's ready to work on his collection of 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II /Novas. He's got two now, both like the one he used to cruise the road where Marcia Smith lived when they were in high school.</p><p>LEGACY</p><p>Smith doesn't like to talk about his legacy and he's quick to push credit to others. But he is most proud of the revitalization of downtown. </p><p>"It was depressing seeing your hometown go down, because it's your way of life, your downtown," Smith said. </p><p>Smith said the part he played in revitalizing downtown is his greatest achievement.</p><p>"If you were ever to bump into me downtown on a Saturday night at a car show ... you'll see the biggest smile on my face because I am delighted to see what's going on downtown. I can't say it's because of me. I am part of it." </p><p>Mayor Powell said Smith's legacy would be his love for the city and its residents.</p><p>"He's always put the city first," Powell said. </p><p>"He's always concerned about the well-being of the citizens and he has always thought about the employees as well."</p><p>Police Chief Gary Hester, the only department director Smith hired as city manager, said it's hard to pick just one accomplishment.</p><p>"I think there isn't much that Dale's fingerprints aren't on throughout this city," Hester said. </p><p>He may be joining a large group of retirees living in Winter Haven, but he'll be one of the few who can say they're a homeboy.</p><p>[ Ryan Little can be reached at ryan.little@theledger.com or 863-401-6962. Follow him on Twitter @LedgerRyan ]</p>